The Anambra State Police Command has denied allegations of bias in the leadership dispute rocking the Diocese of Awka following the deployment of security personnel to St Faith Anglican Church in Awka on Sunday.
The command explained that the deployment was intended to maintain law and order, protect lives and property, and prevent any breakdown of peace.
The security presence came after the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, directed the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka, Most Reverend Alexander Ibezim, to proceed on six months’ compulsory leave.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described reports suggesting that the police were taking sides in the dispute as misleading.
He emphasised that the deployment of security personnel should not be viewed as support for any party or position in the ecclesiastical disagreement.
The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command has described reports concerning police presence at St. Faith Anglican Church as misleading, cautioning against the misrepresentation of security interventions in ways that could heighten tensions surrounding the alleged ecclesiastical dispute.
“The Command wishes to clarify that the deployment of police personnel to any location is guided by the need to maintain law and order, prevent a breakdown of peace, protect lives and property, and ensure the safety of all concerned, irrespective of their affiliations or positions in the dispute.
“The Command emphasises that police presence should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any party or position in an ecclesiastical disagreement.”
The police reaffirmed their commitment to enforcing the law, protecting citizens’ rights and ensuring that disputes do not escalate into threats to public peace and security.
The command also urged media organisations, social media users and other stakeholders to verify information before publishing it and avoid circulating reports capable of escalating tensions within the religious community.
It assured residents that its officers would continue to carry out their duties professionally and impartially.
“It will not allow any disagreement, religious or otherwise, to degenerate into a breach of public peace and security,” the statement added.